STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1866

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.C.R. No. 38

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 38, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN FOR INCREASING AID AND ASSISTANCE TO ORGANIC FARMERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to ensure the long-term viability of organic farming in Hawaii by urging the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to develop a plan for increasing aid and assistance to organic farmers.

     Hawaii Cooperative of Organic Farmers, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) supported this measure.  DOA submitted comments. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the plan address increasing aid and assistance to certified organic farmers;

     (2)  Changing its title to read as follows:  "URGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN FOR INCREASING AID AND ASSISTANCE TO CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS";

     (3)  Adding HOFA to the list of entities that DOA is urged to increase cooperation with; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 38, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 38, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair